Irish actors, movies, directors and writers have taken centre stage in the Oscar nominations.

As expected, Saoirse Ronan is in the running for best actress for Brooklyn, while Michael Fassbender, whose mother is from Larne, was shortlisted for best actor for his portrayal of Steve Jobs.

One of the surprises was Lenny Abrahamson's nod for best director for Room - about a young woman and her son living in confinement - while Emma Donoghue, author of the novel, was also nominated for her adaptation of her book for the big screen.

Both Room and Brooklyn were nominated for best picture, but they face a tough task to sway the judges.

The nominations are headed by The Revenant with 12 chances of an Oscar, while Mad Max: Fury Road got 10 mentions.

The Academy Awards ceremony takes place in Los Angeles on February 28.

The nominations mark the second time 21-year-old Ronan has been up for an Oscar at a relatively young age after missing out for her supporting role in Atonement when she was 13.

"When we made Brooklyn, we had no idea of what was to come," said Ronan.

"It is the most personal film I have ever done, the hardest one too. To see how the film has been embraced has been heartwarming."

Fassbender was last in the running when he was nominated for his supporting role in 12 Years A Slave.

Critics suggested he is up against it, with Leonardo Di Caprio hotly tipped to bag the award for The Revenant, while Eddie Redmayne, who has enjoyed plaudits for his role as a transgender artist in The Danish Girl, is also in the race with Matt Damon for The Martian and Bryan Cranston for Trumbo.

DiCaprio's British co-star Tom Hardy received a best supporting actor nomination in a category dominated by talent from the UK. There were also nods for Christian Bale for The Big Short, and Wolf Hall star Mark Rylance for Bridge Of Spies. They will compete with Sylvester Stallone for Creed and Mark Ruffalo for Spotlight.

Titanic star Kate Winslet landed a nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Joanna Hoffman in Steve Jobs.